Proton motive force toothbrush

ABSTRACT

The present invention is composed of a dry cell wafer battery circuit enclosed in the dielectric handle of a toothbrush. It has a photovoltaic cell with a rectifying diode used to revitalize the battery if necessary. The inventive system is used to obtund tooth decay and periodontal lesions by obstructing the Proton Motive Force that exists in bacteria. The result is that glycolysis, DNA synthesis, and chelation is upset and this will cause bacteria to dissolute logarithmically. The inventive system is also used to harden and remineralize enamel and dentin by using fluoride compounds available in over the counter dental cleansers. Regular use of these products depends on passive and random action of fluoride and bicarbonate molecules existing in dentifrice, gels, and rinses in a slurry condition in saliva. These are subject to buffers of bicarbonate and phosphate ions of the saliva and are not very efficient. The system of invention takes into consideration the vector magnitude of the water layer between the enamel and the pellicle plaque layer of teeth which insulates the teeth from the electrical potentials of electrophoresis. The claim that electrical potentials can be placed on teeth does not take this physico-chemical phenomena into consideration. This invention will use the proper voltage to produce ionization of molecules in a salivary slurry of gels, dentifrice&#39;s, and rinses.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] I have a provisional application on file dated Nov. 15, 2000#60\227,267. Title Proton Motive Force Toothbrush. I know of no otherrelated applications.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERAL SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] I have not been sponsored at any time.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

[0003] Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] This invention relates to a toothbrush having sufficient meansfor providing sufficient voltage for electrolysis of dentifrice, gels,and rinses to produce hydronium ions and an aqueous acid media. Thepresent inventive system uses the phenomena of electrolysis to obtunddecay of teeth and periodontal disease. There is a hydration layerbetween the enamel of teeth and a natural covering of a glyco-proteinadhesive film called a pellicle that is present on all teeth in the oralcavity. This layer of water molecules is vectorial with a positivecharge directed toward the oxyanion of the phosphate ion of the apatitecrystals of enamel. This vector magnitude insulates the tooth againstelectrical potentials produced by electrophoresis. Any claim that apotential can be placed on teeth by electrophoresis does not take thisphysico-chemical phenomena into account.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention provides an efficient means to obtund decayand periodontal disease by lowering the acid producing bacterial countof plaque. At the same time it will stengthen the apatite crystalbundles of the hard tissues of teeth. The production of the weak acidmedia using the energy of the electromotive force of the toothbrush forelectrolysis will react with the fluoride compounds and the bicarbonatecompounds, if present, of the dentifrice, gels, and rinses in the oralcavity. This is a more organized and active use of these productscompared with the random and passive diffusion that occurs when brushingwithout this energy.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION (cont)

[0006] The present invention is a system composed of a dry cell waferbattery circuit with two leads and exposed lead end plates, aphotovoltaic cell, and a rectifying diode that are incorporated in adielectric toothbrush produced preferably by injection moulding bycomputed aided manufacture for precision of construction. While brushingteeth the two exposed end plates will contact the slurry of saliva,gels, dentifrice, and rinses that contain fluoride and sometimesbicarbonate molecules and with the proper voltage will cause a redoxreaction with the water molecules present by electrolysis resulting inthe production of weak acids of fluoride and bicarbonate. This acidmedia will diffuse the protons present (hydrogen ions) through the cellwalls and membranes of bacteria that exist in the oral cavity by massaction. Bacteria need the hydrolysis of Adenosine Tri Phosphate to formenergy rich metabolites for all vital functions. The presence of theprotons and the fluoride ions in the cytosol of the bacteria will upsetthe equilibrium of the proton motive force and the flavo-cytochrometransport system necessary for the enzymatic catalytic reactions neededfor the production of (ATP) Adenosine Tri phosphate.

[0007] The weak aqueous hydrogen fluoride acid molecules will react withthe apatite crystals of the enamel and dentin of teeth and replace thehydroxyls. This reaction will make the crystals more resistant to aciddecay.

[0008] The same weak acid will react with calcium ions present in thesaliva and form calcium fluoride molecules. These molecules willremineralize demineralized apatite crystals of enamel and dentin ofteeth.

[0009] The basic reaction of the anode and cathode end plates is one ofelectrolysis of the water molecules existing in the slurry whilebrushing the teeth. How the system obtunds tooth decay and periodontitisand the embodiments of the toothbrush will become apparent from thedescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0010] A. The side view of a dielectric toothbrush incorporating theleads, the wafer battery, the photovoltaic cell, the rectifying diode,and the terminal exposed end plates..

[0011] B. The top surface view of a dielectric toothbrush incorporatingthe leads, the wafer battery, the photovoltaic cell, the rectifyingdiode, and the terminal exposed end plates.

[0012] C. The circuitry of the system of the dielectric toothbrush

[0013] A.

[0014] Figure A. shows the side of the toothbrush with the opening tothe outside environment (a) for a negative lead plate and an opening tothe outside environment (b) for a positive lead plate. The negative leadenters the dielectric handle of the brush shy of the bristles andprogresses to a cavity (c) with a sealing cover over it holding the drycell wafer battery (3). The negative lead (1) is contained inside thebody of the brush and is attached to a leaf that contacts the cathode ofthe battery (3) and continues through the cavity and contacts thecathode area of the photovoltaic cell (5). The positive lead (2) entersthe back of the handle of the brush shy of the base of the bristles andprogresses to the cavity (c) and is attached to a leaf that contacts theanode of the battery (3) and progresses through the cavity and contactsthe rectifying diode (4). This diode in turn is attached to the anodearea of the photovoltaic cell (5). This completes the circuit of thesystem which will pump electrons into the electrolyte slurry solution ofsaliva and a rinse, gel, or dentifrice containing aqueous fluoride andbicarbonate compounds that contact the two lead plates (1) and (2) atthe openings (a) and (b).

[0015] B.

[0016] Figure B. is a top view showing the relative positions of theleads (1) and (2). Their exposure to the outside environment (a) and(b), the wafer battery (3), the cavity and sealing cover area (c), therectifying diode (4), and the photovoltaic cell (5)

[0017] C.

[0018] Figure C. is a diagram of the circuitry of the system which isenclosed in the dielectric handle of the toothbrush with the exceptionof the two exposed end plates.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The present invention is to be used in the oral cavity. Itprovides a sufficient amount of voltage to produce electrolysis of waterin the oral cavity while brushing with gels, dentifrice, and rinsescontaining fluoride and bicarbonate compounds to produce a weak acidmedia. The acid media is composed of hydrogen fluoride and hydrogenbicarbonate. The protons of this media will diffuse into the cytosol ofbacteria and lower the pH to the point where the synthesis of ATP willbe disrupted.

[0020] The optimum temperature in the oral cavity is 98.6° F. or 37.0°C. which is the average temperature of the human body. The saliva of theoral cavity has a pH of 7.0 and varies between 6.8 and 8.0. ATP isproduced by ADP plus HPO₄ ^(−2.). Biochemists have determined that theconcentrations of ATP, ADP, and HPO₄ ⁻² are maintained at 8-1-8proportional relationships in vivo.

[0021] The hydrolysis of ATP supplies energy requirements and incooperation with enzymes will cause both exogonic and endogonic chemicalreactions of the bacterial cells that are necessary for the metabolismof the organic compounds for growth, development, and reproduction. Thecontents of the cytosol, cell walls, and plasma membranes are made up ofthese organic compounds. Some of these compounds are used to synthesizeribose and the dinucleotides of pyrimidine and purine that are essentialfor the formation of DNA, RNA, coenzymes and the ribosomes of bacteria.

[0022] ATP is synthesized in a vesicle located in the plasma membranesurrounding the cytoplasm of bacteria. This vesicle is a proteincomposed of two parts, a stalk and a knob. The stalk sectioncommunicates with the environment outside the cell membrane and the knobis inside the membrane and bathed by the cytosol contents of the cell.If there is a pH gradient between the outside and the inside of the cellplasma membrane protons outside the membrane are drawn into the stalksection of the vesicle and some enzymes of the connected knob sectionwill catalyze a reaction between ADP and HPO₄ ⁻² and ATP will besynthesized.

[0023] The protein vesicle is called ATPase or F₀F₁ and is under thecontrol of the Proton Motive Force of the bacteria. The protons areproduced by three metabolic generating cycles in the cytosol which bytheir redox reactions with coenzyme molecules produce a flow ofelectrons. The generating cycles are called the Embdon-Myerhof pathwayof Glycolysis, the Pyruvate Oxidation cycle, and the Citric Acid cycle.In the generating cycles the coenzymes molecules are reversibly reducedand oxidized and produce a flow of electrons from a more negativepotential to a more positive potential.

[0024] This change in electrical potential releases energy in such waythat the excess protons are pushed outside the cytosol of the bacteriathrough the plasma membrane to the outside environment. Here the flow ofprotons results in a more acid pH relative to the cytosol and a lowerconcentration of protons inside in the cytosol. The resultant pHgradient and the electrochemical gradient favors the flow back ofprotons through the stalk F₀ and this triggers enzymes located in theknob F₁ to synthesize ATP from ADP and HPO₄ ⁻².

[0025] In this phenomena called the Proton Motive Force the coenzymesystem mentioned is called the Flavo-Cytochrome system of redoxphosphorylation. The reactions are referred to as the Electron TransferSystem or ETS. A series of redox reactions occur beginning with thecoenzyme NAD⁺ (Nicotinamide Adenosine Dinucleotide) to FP (FlavoProtein) to Co Q (Coenzyme Q) to a group of Cytochromes that ultimatelyreduce Oxygen to water in aerobic respiration conditions and NO₃(Nitrates) and SO₃ (Sulfates) in anaerobic conditions.

[0026] In summary the central role of ATP in metabolism of bacteria isthat energy obtained from lipids, proteins and carbohydrates is storedin ATP. From this energy storage the hydrolysis of ATP supplies energyto form organic substances for cell walls, nucleic acids, and thenutritive compounds to sustain life and the reproduction of cells.

[0027] The ATP itself is synthesized in the enzyme complexes of theplasma membrane of bacteria by a series of redox reactions between NAD⁺,FP, Co Q, and the Cytochrome series which biochemists call the ETS. Thisseries of redox reactions causes an electrochemical gradient between theinside and outside of the plasma membrane. The change in electricalpotential releases energy in such a way that the protons are pushedoutside the the cytosol and establishes an acid pH outside the cytosol.The protons flow back into the cytosol via F₀ and then to F₁ and thistriggers a catalytic action to form ATP. The electrons liberate theirenergy by tranportation down a voltage gradient causing a flow ofprotons. This phenomena is called the Proton Motive Force.

[0028] The weak acids produced by the present inventive device passesthrough the plasma membrane of bacteria by mass action. The weak acidsdissociate in the relatively basic cytosol solution. This raises the pHand has bypassed the protein vesicle F₀F₁ and thereby will upset theProton Motive Force and ATP synthesis will be obtunded. The bacteriawill dissipate logarithmically and will eventually die.

[0029] In order to understand the inventive system and the reactionprocesses used to obtund decay and periodontal disease, a description ofthe mineral composition of the apatite crystal structure of dentin andthe natural covering of enamel bathed in saliva is necessary.

[0030] All healthy teeth have a natural covering consisting of ahydrated glycoprotein (gp) adhesive film called a pellicle. The outermost layer is a disaccharide called sialic acid Within this layer is aprotein section of the film composed of amino acids. For the most partserine, aspartic, glycine, and glutamine and to a lesser extent otheressential acids are present. There is a hydration layer between thepellicle and enamel and the sialic acid is hydrolyzed here and attractsthe cations of the apatite crystals.

[0031] The hydration layer is vectorial and the positive portion isdirected toward the negatively charged oxyanion of the phosphate sectionof the apatite crystal. That is the vector charge insulates the surfaceof teeth. The magnitude and direction of the water molecule is a naturalinsulator opposing an electrical potential. Any claim that an anelectrical potential can be placed on a tooth surface does not take thisphysico-chemical phenomena into consideration.

[0032] The hard tissues of enamel and dentin are made of bundles of pureand impure apatite and these bundles are the prime target for aciddecomposition by bacteria. Pure apatite crystals are represented by theformula Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂. In enamel and dentin of teeth the calcium maybe intermittently substituted by cations such as Na⁺, Mg⁺⁺, Zn⁺⁺, andother cations to a lesser extent. The PO₄ anion may be substituted byCO₃ groups of anions. These substituted areas show hexagonal holes whichare connected by carbonates and some of the impure substituted regionsof the crystals. The impure apatite crystals using sodium asrepresentative of impure cations present can be illustrated as follows:Na_(α)Ca_(10−α)(PO₄)_(6−β)(CO₃)_(β)(OH)₂.

[0033] The present inventive system will be used as an adjunct to thenatural processes of immunity and the supersaturated solution of calciumand phosphate ions that exist in the saliva by using the fluoride andbicarbonate compounds of gels, dentifrice, and rinses of over thecounter dental products used in dental health procedures. The conjugatebase fluoride ion is a weaker base than the hydroxyl ion of the apatitecrystal and will not react with acids produced by bacteria.

[0034] Salivary products, bacterial metabolites, and bacteria willeventually cover the pellicle and form a gelatinous mass called plaque.This adheres to pits, fissures, and crevices between the teeth and thegums. The enamel surface of teeth displays many features that allow thediffusion of cations, anions and acid products of bacteria entrance.These features include focal holes that contain global proteins, enamelrod boundaries, and developmental spaces called the lines of Retzius.The present inventive system can use these natural features to greatadvantage to obtund decay and prevent periodontal disease.

[0035] Tooth decay begins when acid products of bacteria dissolve theapatite crystals. Sucrose of the diet is converted to stickypolysaccharides by Strep mutans and this material becomes part of theplaque structure. The polysaccharides in time of food deprivation can beused as a food reserve for the bacteria in the oral cavity.

[0036] The Strep. mutans group of bacteria are classified bybacteriologists as gram positive faculative types that coexist withblood cells, cations, anions, and immunoglobulins in the saliva of theoral cavity. The Strep. mutans creates an acid media environment in theplaque in which colonies and aggregates of colonies of various bacteriaflourish. Strep. Mutans metabolizes Sucrose to glucose phosphate andfructose phosphate which substances diffuse through the plasma membraneof bacteria into the cytosol where it is further split intotriglycerides with the aid of the Proton Motive Force and the ElectronTransport system. The energy for this is supplied by the hydrolysis ofATP chelated to the divalent magnesium ion.

[0037] As the plaque matures and the magnitude increases, the acid mediacreated by the Strep. mutans is optimal for the growth of rods,bacteroides, spirillum, spirochaetes, veillonella, cocci, and fusiformsetc. These micro organisms will contribute to the dental diseases towhich humans are subject. These bacteria need the acid conditionscreated by Strep. Mutans. These bacteria contribute lactic, succinic,propionic, formic, and citric acids to plaque and compromise theperiodontal tissues in the oral cavity. The anaerobe lactobacillus isnext in importance to Strep. Mutans and flourish in low oxygen tensionof acid media created by the Strep. Mutans. It appears in more maturedecay and uses pyruvate to ferment lactic acid. By lowering thebacterial count of Strep. Mutans these acid producing bacteria will bereduced to a minimum.

[0038] The acids of the bacteria produce hydronium ions. The hydroniumions dissolve the crystals of apatite by thermodynamically diffusingfrom the plaque covering into the enamel and dentin spaces and poresfreeing the calcium, other cations, phosphates, and carbonates thatcompose the crystal. This demineralization is the first sign of decay.

[0039] The developmental spaces of the lines of Retzius, the focalholes, and any enamel imperfections offer diffusion pathways to the weakacid HF that is a product of the electrolytic reaction of the slurry ofsaliva, gels, dentifrice's, and rinses by the present inventive system.The present inventive system is used to harden and mineralize thedemineralized apatite crystals of dentin and enamel as well asinterfering in the synthesis of ATP of bacteria.

[0040] Saliva in the oral cavity has a physiological pH that variesbetween 6.8 and 8.0 with buffering components of PO₄ ions, peptides, andbicarbonates to neutralize the acids produced by the present bacteria.Saliva is supersaturated with molecular Calcium Phosphate in equilibriumwith Ca⁺² ions and PO₄ ³⁻ ions. The saliva can remineralizedemineralized enamel and dentin with the aid of a sufficient amount ofFluoride in solution. Commercial over the counter dental products thatcontain Fluoride rely upon random and passive diffusion of Fluoride ionsbetween the plaque and enamel to arrest decay of the teeth.

[0041] The average dentifrice has an alkali metal Fluoride concentrationof available Fluoride ion on the average of 0.15% to 0.22%. This systemis compromised by salivary buffers The HF is a weak acid and has a lowentropy, that is it is highly structured and is a weak electrolyte andis weakly dissociated. The dissociation constant and reaction formulacan be illustrated using sodium for the cation as:

NaF _(aq) =Na ⁺ _(aq) +F ⁻ _(aq) and H ⁺ ₃ O ⁺ +F ⁻ _(aq) =HF _(aq) +HOH

K _(a)=6.9×10⁻⁴ M of HF _(aq)

[0042] The metal fluoride in the presence of acid plaque and salivarybuffers will increase in the concentration of its solubility productunder the influence of the inventive system since more proton for thehydronium ion will be produced. This would be a more efficient use ofFluoride present in the dental products.

[0043] The metal Fluoride molecule will dissociate into a cation and abasic conjugate Fluoride ion in the presence of a Hydronium ion(H⁺+HOH=H₃O⁺). More conjugate Fluoride ion will react with the increasedHydronium ion to form more HF in aqueous saliva. As the F⁻ _(aq) reactswith the Hydronium ion to form HF_(aq), the NaF_(aq) will increase itssolubility product and more F_(aq) will react with the hydronium ion. Tomaintain this equilibrium more of the available NaF must dissociate. Thepresent invention system will establish a proton gradient in a moreefficient manner and a condition of maximum change by using the energyof electromotive force from the toothbrush to produce more Hydroniumions to react with aqueous fluoride.

[0044] Na⁺ _(aq) (aqueous sodium ion) and F⁻ _(aq) (aqueous fluorideion) have high standard reduction potentials and will not have redoxreactions in an aqueous media. Water molecules in the aqueous media willhave a redox reaction in preference.

[0045] Water molecules are reduced at the cathode of a battery cell andwill have an oxidation reaction at the anode with the production ofdiatomic Oxygen, Hydrogen ions, and two electrons and an oxidationpotential of 1.229 V. The overall cell reaction can be shown as follows:2H₂O = O₂ + 4H⁺ + 2e E⁰ = −1.229 V 2H₂O + 2e = H₂ + 2OH⁻ E⁰ = −0.828 VTOTAL E⁰ = −2.057 V

[0046] This is the calculated voltage, however in practice the voltagerequired in reactions involving Hydrogen and Oxygen is an additional 0.6V that is called the overvoltage. Adding this to the total voltage off−2.057 V will sum up to −2.657 V. This means that a voltage of at least2.657 V must be used as an energy source to cause an electrolyticreaction. A 3 V lithium battery cell or more may be used for thispurpose in the system of invention.

[0047] The Hydrogen ions produced at anode causes an hydronium ions acidregion These will react with hydroxyl ions and the fluoride negativeions that are in the aqueous slurry of saliva, gels, dentifrice, andrinses used in the oral cavity. Since fluoride ions react with hydroniumions they will also react with the acids of bacteria in the plaque. Theresult of these combinations is a weak acid HF and water. The reactionmay be shown as follows:

F ⁻ _(aq) +H ₃ O ⁺ =HF+H ₂ O

[0048] The production of the weak acid HF using the energy ofelectromotive force of a battery cell is a more efficient manner ofusing the available fluoride ions present in gels, dentifrice, andrinses rather than the random and passive diffusion of the fluoridecompounds in gels, dentifrice, and rinses that are subject to salivarybuffers present in the oral cavity.

[0049] The system I have devised has a wafer type of dry cell battery(3) with two leads (1, 2); the anode lead (1) extending from thepositive terminal of the battery (3) and the cathode lead (2) extendingfrom the extending the negative terminal of the battery (3). The anodelead (1) has an exposed contact plate (a) on one side of the toothbrushhandle just shy of the bristle area and available for cleaning service.From the contact plate (a) the anode lead (1) progresses inside thedielectric handle of the toothbrush to a cavity (c) which has aprotective cover. Inside the cavity (c) the anode lead (1) attaches to aleaf that contacts the positive terminal of the battery (3), and thiscontinues through the cavity (c) and contacts a diode rectifier (4).This diode prevents the battery from discharging through the photovoltaic cell during times of darkness. The diode (4) progresses to thephoto voltaic cell (5).

[0050] Located just shy of the bristle area on the other side of thetoothbrush the cathode lead (2) has an exposed contact plate (b) on thehandle and available for maintenance cleaning. From this contact plate(b) the cathode lead (2) progresses inside the dielectric handle of thetoothbrush to a cavity (c) which has a protective cover. Here the lead(2) attaches to a leaf that contacts the negative terminal of thebattery (3) and this continues through the cavity (c) and progresses tothe photo voltaic cell (5) and is attached to the cathode of the photovoltaic cell (5). The anode of the photo voltaic cell (5) is attached tothe anode lead (1). This completes the circuit of the system. With theexception of the two end plates (a) and (b). all the parts of thecircuit are enclosed by the dielectric toothbrush. The two end platesare purposely positioned away from the bristles of the toothbrush tofacilitate cleaning.

[0051] This invention uses a system in which a battery cell acts as anelectron pump. The pump pushes electrons into a cathode lead (2) to thecontact end plate (b). in an electrolyte slurry of saliva, gels,dentifrice, and rinses containing fluoride compounds and sometimesbicarbonate compounds. The electrons being removed from the contactplate (a) of the anode lead (1). This process is a redox reaction andthe system uses electrolysis as a method of choice to facilitate theformation of a weak acid HF_(aq) by providing energy to a slurry ofsaliva, gels, dentifrice, and rinses.

[0052] The aqueous fluoride molecules in dentifrice, gels, and rinsesexist in random positions when mixed with saliva in the oral cavity.When voltage of at least 2.057 V is applied to the mixture the randompositions change and become organized parallel to the electric field.The protons gather at the anode and unite with F⁻ _(aq) to form the weakacid HF. This HF will diffuse through the plasma membrane of bacteria bymass action into the cytosol until equilibrium is reached on both sidesof the membrane. The cytosol is relatively basic and is buffered byH₂PO₄ ^(−(6.84)) and HPO₄ ^(−(12.80)). The BF will dissociate into F⁻_(aq) ions and H₃O hydronium ions.

[0053] The F⁼ _(aq) ions will have an adverse effect on the metabolicmechanisms and reproduction. In the cytosol of bacteria by forminganalogues.

[0054] In the case of the metabolic mechanisms analogues take the placeof the intermediate metabolic substrates at the active sites of enzymesin the bacteria. The analogue has the same configuration as thesubstrate and bonds to the active site and neutralizes the enzymes suchthat the function is obtunded. A notable example is the aconitase enzymeof the citric acid cycle. The aqueous fluoride ion will join the doublebond of the dehydrated intermediate molecule cis aconitate to form ananalogue so that the enzyme aconitase does not function on thesubstrate. The result is the citrate tertiary alcohol will not form asecondary alcohol which is necessary for an oxidation reaction tocontinue the cycle. In this way the cycle necessary for metabolism isstopped at that point and the bacteria will not survive.

[0055] The aqueous fluoride ion will form an analogue with Thymidilatesynthase and replace DUMP (Deoxyuridine mono phosphate) which aids inthe production of DNA. This will result in disrupting the reproductivefunction.

[0056] As the weak acid HF reaches a stage of equilibrium on both sidesof the plasma membrane of bacteria the aqueous fluoride ions will effuseout of the cytosol through the plasma membrane to join protons of thesurrounding environment to form more weak acid HF. Some of the aqueousfluoride ions will remain in the cytosol and will form molecules withthe chelators and cofactors of ATP: Mg⁺⁺, Mn⁺⁺, and K⁺. These cationsare cofactors and chelators of mutase, enolase, and kinase which areused to catalyze the reactions of the Embdon-Myerhof anaerobicglycolysis that form PEP (phosphoenol pyruvate) and thephosphoglycerates to form pyruvate. The aqueous fluoride by reactingwith the cofactors and chelators will disrupt the nutrition of thebacteria and they will dissipate logarithmically.

[0057] Acids, chiefly lactic acid, produced by plaque bacteria willdemineralize carbonates (CO₃)_(β) and cations of the apatite regions ofenamel and dentin. The phosphare and bicarbonate buffers of saliva willneutralize these acids under ideal conditions, The saliva issupersaturated with calcium and phosphate ions and will replace thedissolved cations and anions of the apatite crystals of thedemineralized layers. The formula for the lactic acid reaction with theapatite crystals is as follows:

Ca ₁₀(PO ₄)₆(OH)₂ +CH ₃ CHOHCOOH=3Ca ₃(PO ₄)₆+2HOH+(CH ₃ CHOHCOO) ₂ Ca

[0058] The weak acid HF produced by the voltage of the inventive systemtravels to the neutral water covering between the enamel and thepellicle plaque layers covering the enamel surface. The aqueous fluorideion conjugate adheres to the crystals as calcium fluoride. This improvesthe remineralization process by the growth of fluoroapatite crystals(FAP). Chemically the aqueous fluoride ion is a weaker base than thehydroxyl ion it displaces on the apatite crystal. The modifiedcrystal(FAP) is more resistant to acid attack of bacteria. Physicallythe action of this fluoride will diminish the distance between the radiiof the fluoride ions and the calcium ions of the crystals. This isaccording to Van De Walls law of attraction between nuclei. The volumeof the FAP is less than the volume of the hydroxyl apatite (HAP) andwill be more dense and as a result will be less likely to break down.The reaction is represented by the formula:

Ca ₁₀(PO ₄)₆(OH)₂+2HF=Ca ₁₀(PO ₄)₆ F ₂+2H ₂ O

[0059] The system of the present invention by applying suitable voltageto fluoride and bicarbonate compounds of gels, dentifrice's, and rinsesin a slurry of saliva will obtund decay in teeth and preventperiodontitis by disrupting the Proton Motive Force of the bacteria ofthe oral cavity and thereby interfering with the synthesis of ATP andthe cofactors and chelators joined to ATP. In addition it willstrengthen the apatite crystals of enamel and dentin by producung theweak acid HF more efficiently as an aqueous fluoride ion source foradhering fluoride ion to the HAP crystals and as a source of CaF₂ forthe impure apatite crystals that are in the form of:Na_(α)Ca_(10−α)(PO₄)_(6−β)(CO₃)_(α)(OH)₂. The impure form of apatitecrystals of enamel and dentin using sodium (Na) as representing anycation except calcium Ca.

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The foregoing description of the inventive system is to be understood asgiven by illustration and example. The numerous changes and detailedcombination and arrangement of parts may be reconstituted withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as herein claimed.1. I claim a toothbrush with a dry cell battery enclosed within thedielectric handle of the brush with two electrode plates exposed tofacilitate electrolysis of a slurry of saliva containing gels,dentifrice, and rinses.
 2. I claim that the battery has a photovoltaiccell to revitalize the battery using a rectifying diode attached to theanode of the battery to prevent leakage of power during times ofdarkness and this will add longevity to the battery.
 3. I claim theenergized slurry contains aqueous fluoride ions, hydrogen ions, O₂ andH₂, hydroxyl ions, and if present bicarbonate ions to produce the weakacids of fluoride and bicarbonate (HF and H₂CO₃).
 4. I claim thereactions of electrolysis to be a new inventive system to obtund decayand periodontal disease by lowering the acid producing bacteria ofplaque on teeth.
 5. I claim that by applying a suitable voltage of atleast 2.657 V. to the said slurry, the Proton Motive Force of bacterialcells will be obtunded thereby interfering with the synthesis ofAdenosine Tri Phosphate (ATP)
 6. I claim the protons produced by theionization of weak acids that have passed through the plasma membraneinto the cytosol of bacteria have bypassed the ATP synthesizingmechanism called ATPase (F₀F₁) and upset the equilibrium of the ProtonMotive Force.
 7. I claim the aqueous fluoride ion produced by theionization of the weak acid HF will form analogues with enzymes of thebacteria cytosol and the analogues in turn will disrupt DNA synthesis,glycolysis, and chelation which will dissolute the bacteria that causedental decay and periodontits.
 8. I claim that the calcium fluorideformed by the aqueous fluoride and the calcium ions of saliva using theenergy of the electromotive force of a battery cell will mineralizedemineralized enamel and dentin by replacing the hydroxyls of apatitecrystals of the enamel and dentin with fluoride ions.
 9. I claim thatthe ionization of the weak acid hydrogen fluoride using the energy ofthe electromotive force of a battery cell will produce aqueous fluorideions to adhere to the apatite crystals of enamel and dentin by replacingthe hydroxyl ions of the crystals.
 10. I claim that the aqueous fluorideion produced will form the modified crystal bundles calledFluoroapatites (FAP) which are more dense than pure and impure apatitecrystal bundles of enamel and dentin and more resistant to acid decay.11. I claim that the weak acids of hydrogen fluoride and bicarbonateproduced by the inventive system will pass through the plasma membraneof bacteria by mass action into the relatively basic cytosol and therebylowering the pH and causing the bacteria to dissipate logarithmicallyand die.
 12. I claim the aqueous fluoride ions in the cytosol will formmolecules with the cation cofactors and chelators of ATP preventing themetabolic enzymatic reactions of enolase, mutase, and kinase needed fornutrition and proton production.
 13. I claim that the production of theweak acid media using the energy of electromotive force of the inventivesystem from the toothbrush will use the compounds of bicarbonate andfluoride of the gels, dentifrice, and rinses more efficiently incomparison with the random and passive diffusion of the compounds whenbrushing the teeth without this energy.
 14. I claim the inventive systemwill obtund tooth decay and periodontal disease by causing the enameland dentin to become more dense and acid resistant.
 15. I claim theinventive system will obtund decay and periodontal disease byinterfering with the synthesis of ATP resulting in dissipation of acidproducing bacteria.